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(No Model.)

. R. BARKER. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING GOLD AND'SILVER FROM THEIR ORES.

Patented May 8,1883.

N. FUCHS. Phulo-Lmlflgripher, Wahingiom D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD BARKER, OF LONDON, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

APP ARAT US FOR EXTRACTING GOLD AN D SILVER FROM THEIR ORES.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,997, dated May 8,1883.

To all whom it may concern specification. s

My invention relates to improvements in ex-,

. tracting gold and'silver from their ores by the combined action ofelectricity, mercury, and water applied inthe manner and by means ofapparatus as hereinafter described. For the purpose ot'nly invention Iprovide a table in which I arrange a number of riflies, vats, troughs,or other suitable vessels, insulatedor not, and made of iron, wood,porcelain, ebonite, gntta-perchaand its products, earthenware, (glazedor unglazed,).or any other suitable material. A current of electricityis then applied tothewater by one or more suitable cathodes and anodesplaced therein. The electricity is allowed to flow from one pole totheother, thereby producing an agitation on the surface of the mercuryand causing it to'absorb the gold and silver. Icause, by any convenientmeans, a stream of water to pass over or through the table, vat, trough,or other vessel containing the ore to be operated upon, one object.being to wash away the waste ore and the other to furnish a continuoussupply of hydrogen and oxygen to the ore. To assist the agitation on thesurface of the mercury I provide one or more stirrers or agitators.

In order that my invention may be readily understood and carried intoeffect by any competent person experienced intthe art or process towhich it relates, I proceed to describe the same with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan of a riffle, vat, or trough to which my improvementsare applied, the

Application filed April 5,1883. (No model.)

stirrers, however, being removed for sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is across-section of a riffle, vat, or trough, showing the position of themain cathode and the stirrer, the branch cathode being shown ill thewater, but above the mercury. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a riffie,vat, or trough, showing the position of the main anode and stirrer, thebranch anodes being shown in the water and above the mercury.

R is the riftle, vat, or trough, along one side of which the main anodeA is laid. From this anode Abranch anodes A A pass into the water andacross the riffle. On the opposite side of the riffle is laid. the maincathode G, from which branch cathodes 0'0 extend into the water andacross the riffle in the opposite direction, and sufficiently far awayfrom the branch anodesso as not to touch one another.

S is a stirrer to assist agitation on the surface of the mercury. 1

H is the terminal of the branch anodes,and H the terminal of the branchcathodes.

or is the wire from the battery or other source of electricity, and y isthe return-wire.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

In apparatus for extracting gold and silver from their ores by thecombined action of electricity, mercury, and water, the cathodes andanodes arranged to extend across the riffle, vat, or trough, and to liein the water and above the mercury, substantially as. described andshown, and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

RICHARD BARKER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM LEE,

- 68.F Zeet Street, London. G. W. WESTLEY,

17 Gracechurch Street, London.

